Surfing in The Rock of Gibraltar

Gibraltar has an area of only 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2). The territory is disputed by the United Kingdom and Spain, but for surfers it only matters if it's pumping.

Gibraltar offers 12 kilometers of coastline. You could easily round the territory by bike in a couple of hours to check the surf. It's Britain, in the sun.

With only 30,000 Gibraltarians, the chances of finding a surf shop are very small. Nevertheless, there's good news. Yes, you can catch waves and surf in Gibraltar.

The interesting thing is you can actually be the only one in the line-up enjoying an epic swell. Gibraltar has two coasts. The Western coast is densely populated, and the Eastern side is almost deserted. Press the East button for surfing.

Up in the North, close to the airport runway, Eastern Beach provides the ideal conditions for consistent Mediterranean swells. A two-minute drive to Caleta, less than two kilometers away, is a good alternative.

Waves in the Mediterranean Sea are more frequent than commonly expected. During autumn, winter and spring, you'll get good surfing sessions in Gibraltar. There are swells coming in from the Atlantic and crossing the Strait of Gibraltar into the Med.

Sandy Bay, located south of Caleta, is also a great spot. Bodyboarders will enjoy its barreling shorebreak conditions in heavier days.

In 2006, surfing on "The Rock" got a major boost with the creation of the Gibraltar Surfing and Bodyboarding Association (GSBA). Andy Warr is one of the most active surfers in the region.

The downside of surfing in Gibraltar is that riding waves is prohibited, during summer days, between 10am and 8pm.